Nothing says "bold stand" quite like a gas station manager following a uniformed federal agent out of the store to let him know he is not welcome to purchase a Slim Jim and a fountain drink. That is essentially what happened when U.S. Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino was denied service at a Speedway convenience store, as The American Tribune reported, part of a growing string of incidents where ICE agents and Homeland Security officials have been turned away by businesses.
Conservative activist Cam Higby captured the whole thing on video. Bovino, to his credit, kept his mouth shut about the situation when asked outside the store. The manager, however, was more than happy to explain himself. When Higby asked why he refused to serve Bovino, the manager said, "Because I wanted to. I don't support ICE and nobody here does." An employee in the background chimed in with, "If it is illegal, I personally don't care." Bold words from someone whose entire professional existence revolves around selling lottery tickets and energy drinks.
The manager declined to answer when asked if he thought it was legal to deny service to federal agents based on their job. Not a great sign when your confidence in your own legal position crumbles the moment someone asks a follow up question.
Deputy Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin noted that similar incidents have cropped up at several gas stations, where anti-ICE agitators have stalked officers. Hotels have also gotten in on the action, with at least one refusing to book rooms for ICE agents.
Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Zack Smith, now a senior legal fellow at the Heritage Foundation, told Fox News that the behavior was shameful. "It's shameful conduct to try to penalize men and women who are going out, day in and day out, seeking to enforce federal... law, seeking to penalize them and refusing to provide them services," Smith said. He compared the situation to law enforcement officers being refused service during the emotionally charged period following George Floyd's death.
Smith acknowledged that businesses may technically retain the legal right to refuse service, but added, "just because they may have the right to do it doesn't make it the right thing morally to do." His recommended response was not lawsuits but boycotts, which is exactly what happened once the footage went viral. Conservatives immediately pledged to avoid Speedway and directed their frustration at parent company 7-Eleven for staying quiet on the matter.
Hilton, by contrast, actually responded publicly and revoked the franchise of hotels that refused ICE reservations. Smith noted this was likely because Hilton understood "that many consumers are not going to approve or like it when businesses are refusing service to individuals simply because they are members of law enforcement."
So to recap: if you are a federal agent looking for a Gatorade and some gas, maybe call ahead first. We live in a time where buying snacks has become a political litmus test.
Read more American news stories at: The American Tribune
